Magnetic thread holder and cutter

ABSTRACT

A thread holder and cutter for mounting on a sewing machine comprises a pair of magnets disposed on opposite sides of an intermediate metal base member and movable toward and away from the base member sufficiently to permit a pair of threads to be inserted between each of them and the base member. The latter is wider than the magnets and has in its periphery a pair of oppositely disposed reentry slots through one of which the threads are lead from one side of the base member to the other and to the opposite slot which is provided with a cutting edge.

United States Patent 91 Beregow 1 1 Jan.23, 1973 [76] lnventor: Alex Beregow, 22 Taylor Place,

Westport, Conn. 06880 [22] Filed: March 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 121,301

[52] U.S. Cl ..ll2/252 [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 65/00 [58] Field of Search ..112/252, 252.5, 130

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 379,243 8/1964 Switzerland ..112/252 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Attorney-John W. Hoag ABSTRACT A thread holder and cutter for mounting on a sewing machine comprises a pair of magnets disposed on opposite sides of an intermediate metal base member and movable toward and away from the base member sufficiently to permit a pair of threads to be inserted between each of them and the base member. The latter is wider than the magnets and has in its periphery a pair of oppositely disposed reentry slots through one of which the threads are lead from one side of the base member to the other and to the opposite slot which is provided with a cutting edge.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAI23 I973 3.712.255

INVENTOR. Alex fleregaw MAGNETIC THREAD HOLDER AND CUTTER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a thread holding and cutting device which may be easily mounted on a sewing machine in fixed position or so that it may be swung between an operating position and a non-operating position out of the way. The device provides a reliable way for clamping the threads before severing them from a work piece on which a sewing operation has been performed, and for holding the ends of the threads leading to the needle and to the bobbin respectively, in preparation for the next sewing operationwhen they can be readily withdrawn from the clamping means.

The invention will be best understood by reading the following description in connection with the drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the device mounted for swinging movement over the top surface of the base of a sewing machine,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. I, partly in cross section, and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in cross section showing the device mounted on the presser foot of a sewing machine.

DESCRIPTION In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings a pair of magnets and 12 are loosely assembled on opposite sides of an intermediate metal base member 14 by means of an axial pin 16 the ends of which are peened or otherwise bent over and enlarged to keep the members in assembled relation, but the pin is long enough to permit the magnets to move toward and away from the intermediate base member sufficiently to permit a pair ofthreads drawn over the surface of the base member to be inserted between the base member and the magnets respectively.

As shown herein in FIGS. '1 and 2 the base member and the magnets are disc shaped and the base member is supported at the outer end of an arm 18 which adjacent its other end is bent at an angle providing a portion 20 which is adapted to be inserted in a hole 22 extending downwardly into the sewing machine base from its upper surface and to be rotated within the said hole to swing the assembly from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1, where it is adjacent the throat plate 24 and the needle hole 26 therein, and the presser foot 28 and needle 30 which are disposed above the plate with the needle aligned with the needle hole. The hole 22 may be one of two holes commonly provided in the upper surface of the base of a sewing machine for any one of a number of attachments which the operator may wish to use.

As shown herein in FIG. 3 the arm extending from the base member 14 is bent at a right angle and the bent down end 36 is bifurcated and adapted to straddle the shank of the presser foot thumb screw 38 by which it is supported.

As is well understood, the thread [-1 from a bobbin. not shown, extends up through the needle hole 26 to the work piece, and the thread r-2 extends from the needle 30 to the work piece w. In the marginal portion of the intermediate base member I4 which extends beyond the magnets the reentry slots 32 and 34are provided. Slot 32 is disposed adjacent the outer end of the arm 18 and slot 34 is disposed substantially opposite slot 32, on the opposite side of the pin- 16, and substantially l20 l removed from slot 32. One or both edges of slot 34 are cutting edges.

In using the device a work piece w on which a sewing operation has been completed is moved away from the throat plate and needle hole sufficiently to expose the thread t-l between the work piece and the bobbin as well as the thread t-2 between the work piece and the needle. The operator grasps both of these threads and slides them first over the top surface of the intermediate member 14 against the peripheral edge of the top magnet 10, which rises sufficiently to allow the threads to be inserted under it, between it and the base member. The operator then draws the threads under the magnet until they extend substantially around the center pin 16, and then passes them through slot 32 to the under surface of member 14, and inserts them between the magnet 12 and the base member and draws them across the under surface of the base member and into the slot 34 where he presses them against the cutting edge of the slot and severs them.

In this way the threads may be severed from the work piece w and the leading ends of the threads from the bobbin and from the needle are held in readiness for the next sewing operation when the operator may readily pull them from under the magnets successively.

It has been found that this means provides a reliable thread clamping action and that the threads maybe readily moved into and withdrawn from the holding device.

What lclaim is:

.l. A thread holding and cutting device comprising, a metal base member, a pair of magnets, and means for mounting the magnets on opposite faces of the base member with enough freedom of movement relative to the base member to allow a pair of threads to be inserted between the base member and the magnets respectively, the base member being wider than the magets and having, extending inwardly from its periphery, apairofreentry slots which are spaced apart around its periphery, the edge of one of the slots being a cutting edge. u

2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which the base member is supported at the outer end of an arm the other end of which is adapted for insertion in a hole extending downwardly into the base portion of a sewing machine to provide for mounting the assembly for swinging movement over the base of the sewing machine between non-operating and operating positions.

3. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which the magnets are loosely assembled on opposite sides of the metal base member by means of a pin extending through the centers of said members, the said pin having enlarged ends to keep the magnets and the intermediate member in assembled relation, the said pin being long enough so that either magnet may move toward and away from the intermediate base member sufficiently to permit a pair of threads to be inserted betweenit and the intermediate member.

4. .In combination. a sewing machine ofknown kind having the usual throat plate and needle hole therein and a needle and presser foot mounted above the throat plate, a hole in the base disposed in spaced relation to the throat plate, a thread holder and cutter comprising, an intermediate metal base member, a pair of magnets disposed on opposite faces of the intermediate member and a pin extending axially through the magnets and the intermediate member by means of which the magnets are held in assembled relation to the intermediate member, the base member being mounted at one end of an arm the other end of which is bent at an angle and adapted to be received in the said hole in the 

1. A thread holding and cutting device comprising, a metal base member, a pair of magnets, and means for mounting the magnets on opposite faces of the base member with enough freedom of movement relative to the base member to allow a pair of threads to be inserted between the base member and the magnets respectively, the base member being wider than the magets and having, extending inwardly from its periphery, a pair of reentry slots which are spaced apart around its periphery, the edge of one of the slots being a cutting edge.
 2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which the base member is supported at the outer end of an arm the other end of which is adapted for insertion in a hole extending downwardly into the base portion of a sewing machine to provide for mounting the assembly for swinging movement over the base of the sewing machine between non-operating and operating positions.
 3. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which the magnets are loosely assembled on opposite sides of the metal base member by means of a pin extending through the centers of said members, the said pin having enlarged ends to keep the magnets and the intermediate member in assembled relation, the said pin being long enough so that either magnet may move toward and away from the intermediate base member sufficiently to permit a pair of threads to be inserted between it and the intermediate member.
 4. In combination, a sewing machine of known kind having the usual throat plate and needle hole therein and a needle and presser foot mounted above the throat plate, a hole in the base disposed in spaced relation to the throat plate, a thread holder and cutter comprising, an intermediate metal base member, a pair of magnets disposed on opposite faces of the intermediate member, and a pin extending axially through the magnets and the intermediate member by means of which the magnets are held in assembled relation to the intermediate member, the base member being mounted at one end of an arm the other end of which is bent at an angle and adapted to be received in the said hole in the base of the sewing machine for mounting the assembly for movement over the surface of the base of the sewing machine between the operating and non-operating positions.
 5. The deVice claimed in claim 1 in which the base member is supported at the outer end of an angled arm the other end of which is adapted for mounting on the presser foot of a sewing machine. 